Need to read Mac drives in Windows?

Unfortunately, it's not a straightforward process; you can't just connect the Mac drive and await it to work. Here's everything you need to know to get it working.

Why Can't Windows Read Mac Drives?

Windows and macOS use dissimilar file systems. Windows uses the NTFS file system for its internal drives, whereas Apple tree replaced HFS+ with its successor—Apple tree File Arrangement (APFS)—in early 2017. Today, APFS is used on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs.

External hard disks and USB drives are generally formatted with the Windows FAT32 file system for maximum compatibility. Most devices, including Macs, can read and write from FAT32 devices.

All new Macs will be formatted with APFS. Older Mac drives are likely still formatted with the HFS+ file system. Windows tin can't read either file system past default.

We'll show you how to access your Mac-formatted APFS or HFS+ drive on Windows.

How to Read APFS on Windows

Firstly, let'south look at how to read the newer Apple tree File Organisation format on Windows. All these apps volition allow yous to read drives from any updated Apple device, non simply Macs.

one. MacDrive

macdrive home screen

MacDrive has been 1 of the go-to apps for a long time. The starting time version was released way back in 1996. If you're prepared to spend some money, you lot don't need to expect elsewhere.

The app works with APFS drives and HFS+ drives.

Unlike some options, MacDrive lets yous read and write data to your Mac-formatted drive directly from Windows.

The app is focused on the freshly redesigned Deejay Management Window. It acts as a hub for all the Mac drives continued to Windows.

You will also be able to run into your APFS or HFS+ drive direct within File Explorer, allowing easy integration with the rest of the Windows operating organization.

Other useful features include the ability to create and partition Mac disks direct from your PC, a powerful disk repair characteristic, and robust security tools.

The standard version costs $49.99. There's also a Pro version. Information technology adds several extra features, including automated file defragmentation, support for RAID setups, and a way to create Mac ISO files.

A v-24-hour interval free trial is bachelor.

Download: MacDrive for Windows 10 ($49.99)

2. Paragon APFS for Windows

paragon

Paragon APFS for Windows is some other paid app. It is the principal competitor of MacDrive.

The app provides read and write admission to APFS-formatted partitions, read and write admission to compressed and cloned files, and read-simply support for encrypted volumes.

It supports disk auto-mounting at showtime-up only doesn't have MacDrive'due south sectionalization tools.

Check Out Paragon's Wide Range of Solutions, Here

MacDrive has one big advantage over Paragon'due south app: HFS+ support. Paragon APFS for Windows only supports APFS-formatted drives. If you have some older Mac drives lying around that are however running HFS+, you would need to purchase Paragon HFS+ for Windows separately. MacDrive, therefore, is a more than economical option.

One license—which costs $49.95—works on 3 Windows PCs.

Download: Paragon APFS for Windows 10 ($49.95)

3. UFS Explorer Standard Access

UFS Explorer Standard Access exploring mac drive windows

Our third and final recommendation for reading APFS drives on Windows is UFS Explorer Standard Recovery. Once again, it'south a paid option. The app will cost y'all €59.95.

UFS Explorer Standard Recovery is the most versatile app on this list. Information technology can read the 2 formats we intendance almost—APFS and HFS+—too every bit NTFS, Fatty, FAT32, exFAT, SGI XFS, Linux JFS, Unix/BSD, UFS/UFS2, and VMware VMFS.

Equally such, this is the app you should cull if y'all find yourself hopping between lots of unlike operating systems during your 24-hour interval.

UFS Explorer Standard Recovery also comes with RAID support as standard. The app has a built-in RAID builder, so you can customize information technology for your assortment.

There is a free version of the app with no time limits, only information technology will but let you lot re-create files smaller than 256KB in size.

Download: UFS Explorer Standard Access for Windows 10 (€59.95)

How to Read HFS+ on Windows

If your Mac-formatted drive is still running HFS+, apply one of these 3 methods instead.

ane. Install Apple HFS+ Drivers

If you lot but need read access, you tin install the Apple HFS+ drivers for Windows. Be sure to remove Paragon or MacDrive before proceeding.

Download the correct Windows driver bundle, then follow these steps:

  1. Copy the ApplsHFS.sys and AppleMNT.sys files to C:\Windows\System32\drivers
  2. Merge the Add_AppleHFS.reg file with your Windows registry.
  3. Restart your organization.

The video above too demonstrates the procedure.

After restarting, your Mac-formatted drive should prove up under This PC. This method merely gives you read access to the drive. If y'all would like to edit or delete files, attempt 1 of the alternative methods below.

2. HFSExplorer

HFSExplorer

HFSExplorer is completely free. You can use it to access Mac file systems from Windows without paying a dime. The developer hasn't updated it since October 2022 due to the arrival of APFS, just it still works on older systems.

HFSExplorer requires Java. We by and large recommend against having Coffee installed, but it'due south necessary here unless you desire to spend money. You also demand to run the app every bit an Admin.

This tool is elementary to use. Connect your Mac-formatted bulldoze to your Windows system, open HFSExplorer, and click File > Load File Organisation From Device. HFSExplorer can automatically locate whatever connected devices with HFS+ file systems and open them. You tin then extract files from the HFSExplorer window to your Windows drive.

Annotation that HFSExplorer is read-only, so you tin can't modify or delete files on your Mac drive. It as well doesn't integrate with Windows File Explorer—files are bachelor in the HFSExplorer application, and yous must copy them elsewhere.

Download: HFSExplorer for Windows 10 (Costless)

three. Paragon HFS+ for Windows

paragon hfs

Paragon HFS+ for Windows is a paid application, just it distinguishes itself with additional features.

Different HFSExplorer, Paragon HFS+ for Windows provides full read/write access to Mac drives and promises high performance. Information technology even integrates HFS+ file systems with Windows Explorer or File Explorer on Windows. Any Windows program tin read from or write to the Mac drive.

The app costs $nineteen.95, merely it also offers a ten-day gratuitous trial. If you need to recover files from a bulldoze, 10 days is plenty of fourth dimension to install this file system driver, copy your files over, and uninstall it.

Paragon HFS+ doesn't demand Java to work.

Download: Paragon HFS+ for Windows 10 ($19.95)

Format the Mac Drive for Windows

If you have a Mac bulldoze lying around and you no longer have a Mac, you're non stuck with the Mac file arrangement forever. After recovering the files from your bulldoze with one of the tools higher up, you can then format the drive and convert it to a standard FAT32 partition that will work with most devices.

Formatting volition erase all the files on your bulldoze, so make sure you accept backed up your files. To format the drive, apply the dialog that appears when you connect the drive to your computer.

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